Google Maps

Google Local employs a split-screen layout: on the right is the interactive map, and on the left is the directory information. The maps are viewable in three modes: standard map; satellite imagery; and hybrid, with street names overlaying the satellite view. Click and drag the map to zero in on the area of interest and use the zoom tool to get the level of detail you want. Using the satellite view, you can actually pick out individual buildings, which is both fascinating and inexplicably creepy.

With Google Local, you can search on address, types of business, or specific businesses by name, or you can find directions from point A to point B. We searched for the name CNET Networks, and a bubble on the map pinpointed CNET's headquarters in downtown San Francisco (among other hits that come up in a Google search). The information bubble displayed CNET's address, phone number, and Web address, as well as the option to get directions to or from this location. Next, we searched on the term Mexican restaurant, and the map was quickly populated by bubbles pinpointing Mexican restaurants in the vicinity. Clicking each bubble revealed the business's relevant information and links to any reviews found. Searching Google Local for directions gets you step-by-step directions on the left side of the screen and a marked route on the map.

Google Local for Mobile is a downloadable application that brings all the features of Google Local to any Java-enabled cell phone, with a few additional tricks. Namely, when you search for a business and the phone number comes up, you can click to dial, which is a very handy feature when you don't have pen and paper handy. Also, Google Local for Mobile keeps a history of your most recent searches, allowing you to cut down on keystrokes for your common searches. The Mobile application does away with the split-screen layout, due to limited screen acreage, but we found navigating the application (via menus) to be intuitive and easy. You can pan around the map using the phone's directional keypad and zoom in and out quickly; the map redraws itself acceptably fast. Driving directions are doled out one step at a time, which makes sense if you're driving. While the service is free, you'll have to purchase a data service plan through your cellular provider, which can run between $60 and $80 per month for an all-you-can-eat plan. You can get cheaper plans where you pay by the kilobyte, but if you plan to use Google Local for Mobile, you're better off with an unlimited data plan, because downloading the maps will eat up those kilobytes in no time. Currently, Google Local for Mobile works with most Java-enabled phones but doesn't support BlackBerry or Palm devices or BREW phones, which means Verizon users are out of luck (Verizon phones are BREW-based).

As with almost all free software products (and in fact, many paid software products) support options are limited. Still, Google provides a Google Local-specific help page with FAQs and a searchable help section, as well as an in-depth tour of Google Local.